Jho Low a high profile fugitive now?

The problem with being high profile is that when things go wrong, everybody knows about it, including the fact that you are now just the opposite, as in that of man avoiding publicity like the plague.

Many Malaysians would find his quote four months ago as ironic, given the perception that he was the mastermind behind 1MDB's scandal...

'"Trust is the fundamental aspect to our way of life," concluded Mr Low. "It's about how each deal changes a community, a country and the world."

His last entry on his blog linked to his company website was made four months ago, on March 30.

It was about jaguars.'

More from The Straits Times:

Hong Kong office of Malaysian businessman in 1MDB scandal appears deserted

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kong-office-of-malaysian-businessman-in-1mdb-scandal-appears-deserted

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Who should succeed LGE should he be jailed?

We have so little faith in our judicial system that DAP seems resigned to the fate of Chief Minister being jailed as a result of his purchase of a house below market value. DAP had even considered having a snap election to prove they still have the people's support despite the corruption charges.

Personally, I feel it is difficult to convince people that the snap election proposal has nothing to do with YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng's case. We can theorise that it is good strategy now than wait for GE14, and that we should decide when to have the state election instead of leaving to BN. Elections cost money to the political parties, as well as to the voters. Even to those living within the state, it needs time off as well as travelling cost to vote. What about those working or living in other states or overseas? Most people feel their one vote is unlikely to make a difference, so it is likely they might decide not to take the trouble. On the other hand, BN offers 'buy' election goodies in the form of cash and in kind. To those open to persuasion, a few hundred Ringgit in the pocket is better than promises of good governance, which may or may happen, and might even take years.

We have seen how PKR's Kajang move to have Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim become Menteri Besar of Selangor was scuttled by the court's verdict which sent him to jail instead. Dr Wan Azizah had to take his place as candidate and her victory did not see her become the new MB. Many people complained about the strategy which involved having a sitting ADUN resign to make it possible. There were no shortage of brickbats for having a perceived unnecessary by-election. Just imagine the people's dismay at DAP's proposal to have a snap state election! PKR was reluctant to join in and DAP had decided to put off the proposal. To me, good sense prevailed, as the strategy might backfire a la David Cameron's Brexit referendum.

On the topic of who should succeed Lim Guan Eng as CM of Penang, some Indians asked why not Dr P Ramasamy since he is the present DCM? As my wife used to say, 'How can we not be racial in Malaysia?' So when it comes to high positions of office, race matters. I would say having Dr P Ramasamy as DCM is already a big concession by DAP, in view of the small number of Indian DAP ADUNs. Based on the last election results, there are only 4, and if we were to include the one from PKR, only 5.

Penang state assembly has 40 seats and based on GE13 results, DAP has 19, PKR 10, PAS 1, and BN 10, ADUNs. Based on race, there are 19 Chinese (DAP 15 and PKR 4); 16 Malays (BN 10, PKR 5 and PAS 1); and 5 Indians.

Unless the appointments can be solely based on merit and not political, race will always be an important factor. In this case, being DCM does not mean automatic promotion to CM. We have seen a few DPMs being sacked in Umno, a case of so near yet so far. Hypothetically, it is like having a Chinese as DPM, but never expect him to ever be PM of Malaysia.
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We are now at the mercy of PM: National Security Council Bill 2015 gazetted into law

'The National Security Council Bill 2015 has been gazetted into law, without royal assent despite calls by the Conference of Rulers for the legislation to be refined.

The Bill did not receive Royal assent from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.'

Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/344610

Dec 19 2015: Ambiga: NSC Bill the worst piece of legislation I have seen

'The National Security Council (NSC) Bill 2015 is a dangerous piece of legislation which allows a government crackdown even on ‘perceived’ and ‘possible’ threats.

Bulldozed through Parliament two weeks ago and up for debate in Senate next week, it allows security forces to use reasonable force against ‘perceived threat’, which senior lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan said is “not acceptable”.

"This is really the worst piece of legislation I have seen. This is not about security; this is about insecurity and power...'

Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/323905#ixzz4G3XbPqR2

Though the present law does not need Royal assent from the King, to ignore his advice shows disrespect for His Majesty.

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TK Chua: Let’s not be ridiculous in our 1MDB defence

'Since the seizure of assets and the filing of lawsuits by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on some individuals said to have stolen money from 1MDB, numerous quarters have put up defences on behalf of these individuals and 1MDB.

Are the defences put up worthy of consideration? Or are these desperate measures due to desperate circumstances?

Foreign interference in Malaysian affairs is now a favourite defend theme. Various reasons are attributed to this: jealousy, a domineering superpower with bad intention, and the fact that Malaysia is a Muslim country.

This is just odd to me. When Obama came to Malaysia as United States president more than four decades after Lyndon B Johnson, when our PM played golf with Obama, and when our VVIPs made numerous trips to the US officially and “clandestinely”, how come there was no scream of foreign interference?

To me it is simple; I wouldn’t say that the US is for Malaysia or against Malaysia. I think they are indifferent, acting within their jurisdiction and authority.

The next defence is money purportedly stolen and invested in the US was from IPIC, not 1MDB. They used the current arbitration in London between 1MDB and IPIC over money paid to a “wrong” subsidiary in IPIC as the reason for this defence.

I have one simple question on this argument: if indeed the ill-gotten money was from IPIC, may I know how Jho Low, Riza Aziz and Malaysian Official 1 were deemed to have benefited from it?

Are we saying those Arabs from IPIC stole the money and then handed it over to Jho Low and companies to squander it? Those two Arabs may be stupid, but definitely not that stupid.

Finally, why argue whether the case filed by the US DOJ is civil or criminal? Why argue that those named in the suits have yet been found culpable? To me this is splitting hair and carrying an argument to a ridiculous level.

I believe most of us would have no problem appraising DOJ’s action - if only the sources of wealth of those high profile individuals are made known, the origins and destinations of flows of funds are disclosed, the testimonies and whereabouts of Jho Low (and other related individuals) are gathered and disclosed, the contents of the auditor-general’s report on 1MDB declassified and the dossiers in Bank Negara Malaysia and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) tabulated and disclosed.

I think the people of this country have been on a wild goose chase for far too long already. Please don’t ask us to peel more onions.'

Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/349797#ixzz4FOyBjix7 Link

Need patience as patient at general hospital

It is inevitable that as a result of big disparity between charges at government hospitals and private medical centres, that the continually increasing number of patients in GH is causing long queues and waiting time.

Last Thursday was a record for me: left house in BG at 7.15 am and reaching home at 4.30 pm. It takes half an hour to reach Ipoh and the first task was to provide blood sample at Unit Pengambilan Darah. Had to tell the nurse at the counter that I should be given a number beginning with 2 because I needed to take the sample myself to the laboratory and to wait for the result before seeing the doctor. But the computer system was down on that day. It didn't affect me initially as I managed to provide the sample at 8.20 am and was told it would take an hour. Handed in my appointment card at SOPD counter at 8.30 am and was given number 4014, which meant there were 13 patients ahead of me. The queue system for this particular room started only at 9.15 am. By the time I got to see the surgeon, it was already 12.30 pm! Leaving out the time between 8.30 and 9.15, it still took 3 and a quarter hours of waiting time. But to be fair, it took an average of only 15 minutes of consultation per patient. There are 9 rooms, each with at least 2 doctors on duty. But the sheer number of patients makes waiting a necessity. The surgeon told me that she normally skip lunch on busy Thursdays. It is admirable and commendable for her dedication to her profession.

As a result of the system down, the assisting doctor could not access my latest blood test result. I was told to provide another sample and she would accompany me to the lab. But the idea of another blood sample (which would mean my effort for being early would have been wasted) put me off. I asked to try myself at the lab. The nurse, already harassed by the manual tasks, could not find my report. She willingly let me go through the small pile, probably only 30 sheets of paper. I managed to find my own report almost at the bottom of the pile. So that saved a needless blood sample and another hour of waiting.

Based on my blood test results on July 18 and 21, I was given the same prescription for the 3rd cycle of chemo treatment. The vitamin was dispensed at the SOPD pharmacy while the chemo drug at the Day Care Complex pharmacy. But before that, I had to book for a CT Scan appointment in September at the XRay department. Which meant another need for waiting which accounted for the length of time I had to be there.

So it was, like a day's 'work', which saved much in hospital charges, when compared with private medical centres.
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